From reggae with love

For Rick Conkey, Valentines Day means much more than romantic love. For him it’s the perfect opportunity to celebrate love of all kinds—and that’s just what he plans to do as he organizes the second annual One Love Reggae Festival.

The festival will headline Nick “I” of Common Sense, World Anthem, and the Rebel Rockers, as well as speakers and, according to Conkey, a few surprise guests from 7:30 until 11 p.m. at Club “M” on Valentines Day — or as Conkey has taken to calling it, “Singles Awareness Day.”

Conkey’s main goal, he said, is to let music, poetry, art, and film shine a light on key issues in Laguna Beach and the world as a whole. One Love will attempt to raise awareness about the effect humans are having on the ocean environment.

Conkey, a former tennis pro, feels Laguna Beach is the perfect place for artists and musicians to start that dialogue.

“Our number one resource in this town is the ocean. Our number two resource is the artists,” Conkey said.

Conkey, who founded the Blue Water Music Festival, said Laguna Beach is rife with a vibrant music scene that is overshadowed in the city by the well established art community. He believes it is important to integrate the two.

“You cannot separate music from art,” Conkey said. “They both come from the same place.”

Reggae being the music of choice for the event is no accident. According to Conkey, Laguna Beach has the biggest reggae scene outside of Miami, and reggae is the music most associated with the ocean and love.

Debra Sullivan of the Reggae Rockers, better known as “The Princess” in the reggae world, has traveled all over the world performing. Sullivan said Laguna’s reggae scene has its own special flavor that sets it apart.

“It’s as good as any scene on the planet,” Sullivan said. “We’re really kind of one musical family.”

Sullivan also said the concert’s venue, Club “M,” is a great place to perform. She said she loves the colors, moods and energies it holds.

With “One Love” as the theme of the concert, it’s no surprise that there will be references to Bob Marley throughout the show. Conkey said there will be a number of Bob Marley covers performed.

The show comes eight days after what would have been Marley’s 62nd birthday and will attempt to bring Marley’s message of “One World, One Love” into sharp focus.

To Conkey, the ocean is the “One Love” that connects all humans and its health is one of the most pressing issues of modern times. Sullivan said she’s glad to be part of an event to spread ocean awareness.

“It’s the life force, the blood of the planet,” Sullivan said. “The earth is our spiritual mother, if we don’t take care of her, how can she take care of us?”

The concert will also serve a networking function as Conkey plans to use the show to promote Blue Water’s upcoming Earth Day celebration in April, which will feature an environmental fair and a beach cleanup.

Tickets for the One Love Reggae Festival are $30 at the door or $25 presale. For more information contact Rick Conkey at (949) 281-6850. Presale tickets are available at the Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce, 357 Glenneyre St.